Dr. Daniel Binkowski, a Polk County dentist who practices in multiple locations statewide, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of an educational loan repayment award from Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists, a collaborative public-private partnership. The FIND program helps dentists establish dental practices in designated Iowa priority counties where access to dental care is limited. Recipients must devote a percentage of their practice to individuals who disproportionately face barriers to access care, such as those enrolled in Medicaid and older adults. Binkowski will receive $125,000 in loan repayment funds in return for a five-year commitment to serve patients in his practice communities, a news release said. This includes a total of $120,000 from Delta Dental of Iowa and the state of Iowa as well as a community match of $5,000. Community match funding was provided by Iowa Area Development Group, Ripple Effect/Aureon, South Slope Communications, and Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Squires. Delta Dental of Iowa began the loan repayment program in 2022. It has given awards to 57 private-practice dentists who have provided more than 300,000 patient visits.